That easy, jazz-infused post-rock has come a long way since adopting a mispronunciation of their intended band name (The "C" in Cake). The Sea and Cake have extended themselves as a group after almost fifteen years, and now eight full-lengths, of playing. After taking a three-year hiatus, The Sea and Cake returned to the studio with last year's Everybody. Although it had its moments, the melodies of this album felt a little awkward, losing the chemistry of the whole band as I had come to know them. A little over a year and many tour dates later, The Sea and Cake now shows us Car Alarm, surprising everyone with the quick turnaround for a new album.
Upon first listen of Car Alarm, I was immediately impressed. The harmonizing soft guitars, smooth bass lines, and sparse electronic effects sound much better together than on Everybody. It seems as if the band has found their center again, and doing what they do best. This record stays true to the sound that The Sea and Cake has perfected over the years. Car Alarm opens with "Aerials," hits a little faster and poppier than we're used to. The drums are loud, but the song dips during the verses to make sure you haven't forgotten the subdued vocals of Sam Prekop. The second track, "Fuller Moon," is full of softer tones, feeling like a return to their earlier sound. However, the structure of this song is more complex than it first appears, as it segues between progressions with much more ease than before.
A few songs on this album perhaps would be appropriate on 2000's Oui, which will illicit no complaints from me. But many of them seem to take an intriguingly different approach, utilizing diverse effects and sequences. On "Weekend" the emphasis is on the drums and electronics, as the guitars and vocals seem to be more of a side note. With "New Schools," The Sea and Cake brings their raw musicianship right up front, boasting an eclectic lone guitar progression for almost half of the song.
Car Alarm feels like what Everybody should have been. It seems as if The Sea and Cake have gotten through the obstacles of resurrecting themselves as a group, and are now back on track. The band members frequently pursue solo projects in between The Sea and Cake studio albums, but the concentration on the band as a whole for this release is obvious. At this point in any band's career, they have earned the right to play, or not play, whatever they want. But I'm glad to see that they continue to play into their own niche, sticking to the formula but continuing to explore the parameters within their sound.
